Collins condemns Waterford attack on elderly resident

4th November 2014

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice Niall Collins has described an assault on an elderly person Waterford last night as despicable.

Deputy Collins commented: “I understand from local reports that the person attacked in Tramore last night was an elderly cancer patient. This is an utterly reprehensible assault and I condemn it in the strongest terms. I support the efforts of the Gardaí who are working on this case.

“The latest figures available from the Central Statistics Office show there were 141 assaults and 53 assaults causing harm recorded in the Waterford Garda Division in the first six months of this year. This is further evidence of the need for more resources for Gardaí to increase their presence in communities in Waterford and across the south east. Successive cuts for the last four years have hit frontline community policing.

“There are currently more Gardaí coming through training at the Garda College in Templemore and I think there is a very strong case to be made that when these new recruits are ready for the frontline that they be deployed in more rural areas of the country. I am acutely aware that there is a feeling of increased isolation and fear of robbery and assault in many communities in recent years and this should be combatted with an increased community garda presence to bring peace of mind and security to these areas.”

Hey Micheal Martin, whats this rubbish about you defending 180 Garda statements that didn't hold up in Court.. What strokes you trying to pulling in saving this broken institutions face.
A) Disband it, its too steeped in civil war politics.
B) Establish a new force with a separate investigative wing.
C) As the Police are a seperate institution to politics then make the new Commissioner an electable position to ensure public confidence instead of 'political' confidence (other countries do it)